The department stated on Friday that five Memphis police officers involved in the arrest of Tyre Nichols, who died three days after a traffic encounter earlier this month, had been dismissed.
Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis stated in a statement that the five officers were fired after a “internal investigation” established that they “violated multiple department policies, including excessive force, duty to intervene, and duty to render aid.”
The department named the five officers as Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith.
Black 29-year-old Nichols was detained on January 7 when authorities stopped him for reckless driving, according to police.
As cops approached the driver, a conflict ensued, and he fled before being apprehended by chasing officers, according to officials. He was hospitalised due to his shortness of breath complaints. According to officials, the cause of death has not been identified.
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the state’s police department, Nichols passed away on January 10. The department is launching an inquiry into the use of force at the request of Steve Mulroy, district attorney general of Shelby County.
According to a Memphis Police Department public relations officer, all five dismissed officers are Black.
Wednesday, federal officials announced the initiation of a civil rights inquiry into Memphis police conduct.
Relatives claim that the cops that stopped Nichols were in an unmarked vehicle, and that he suffered cardiac arrest and renal failure as a result of being beaten by officers.
Davis and Mayor Jim Strickland said on Tuesday that the family would be able to examine the arrest video after the police department’s investigation is complete.
After originally refusing to comment on the Justice Department’s inquiry, Memphis issued a statement late Wednesday afternoon indicating that it would cooperate fully with the federal authorities conducting the investigation.
On Tuesday, during Nichols’ funeral ceremony, relatives and friends recalled him as a happy, charming guy who worked at FedEx making boxes, liked skating, and often drank coffee and conversed with pals at Starbucks. Some attendees donned T-shirts with the phrases “Justice for Tyre” and “Skate in Peace.”
According to relatives, Nichols was born in California and relocated to Memphis approximately a year ago. Relatives said that he had two brothers and one sister.
Rodney Wells, the stepfather of Nichols, said at the memorial ceremony that Nichols’ supporters want the arrested cops to be prosecuted with first-degree murder.
“We’re not going down without a fight,” Wells said.
»Memphis police announces the firing of five officers involved in Tyre Nichols’ arrest«